Matchday: Bolton vs Liverpool

Another premier league weekend about to end and another Sunday game for Liverpool tonight. I am pretty optimistic on Liverpool clinching its first away game of the season.
I don't really like to see Liverpool playing on Sunday as mostly its a game where reds have to play catchup. Anyhow its no excuse for the poor performances this season. With the poor season behind them and an encouraging win against Blackburn Rovers, the redmen travel to Reebok Stadium to play Bolton Wanderers. Currently 18th in the league table, the reds can move up to 10th position if they manage to win the game handsomely tonight. With star striker Fernando Torres ready to net some more goals, and a positive belief around Anfield, expect another cracker of a game. The importance of Fernando Torres scoring a goal can be easily defined by the fact that Liverpool have won both the games this season, in which Torres has scored. And hence, its a big boost that he is playing. Liverpool will once again be looking to play some more of their attacking possession football, ala previous game against B 'burn. Miereles, Gerrard, Lucas and Cole are likely to be in midfield and Jovanovic must be the fifth midfielder, not Maxi or Babel. With Johnson and Agger doubtful, it 'll again be the likes of Skrtel and Kyrgiakos at the back, suitably aided by Carragher and an out of form Konchesky. As for Bolton, Klasnic is available, even though he was arrested earlier this week on rape charges. Injuries to Davis, J O 'Brien, Gardner and Samuel might be a blessing for reds. Kevin Davies could still be a thorn in the flesh and reds need to be vary of him. Not too excited after last week's win but it is something to build upon. I predict another close game. Liverpool must attack to win. And by God 's grace, reds shall win. Referee: Martin Atkinson The Red Legions Prediction: Bolton 1 – Liverpool 2 Wishing you all the luck reds! Go win our 3 points. You will Never Walk Alone!

Mascherano Blames Gillette-Hicks For Anfield Exit

Javier Mascherano says he quit Liverpool because of a lack of investment by Tom Hicks and George Gillett. The Argentinean ace moved to Anfield in February 2007 and made 139 appearances for the Reds before switching to Barcelona in a £18million transfer this summer. Reds boss Roy Hodgson questioned Mascherano's professionalism for failing to make himself available to play against Manchester City before his move but the 26-year-old insists he had to get out of Anfield because of a lack of investment from the then owners. He told The Sun: "While Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United were spending big money, Liverpool couldn't because they had no money. "The situation is clear to me. When you want to fight for big things, titles, you must have a big team to win. "But, at Liverpool, that wasn't the case. "That was the main reason we didn't qualify for the Champions League and all players want to test themselves at that level." Not easy He added: "It is not easy to leave a team when you have been there almost four years. "The Liverpool people and fans treated me very well. I cannot say anything against them and they will always be in my heart. "But, though it was difficult, I knew my time there was over. Finished. I needed to go." Liverpool have since been taken over by New England Sports Ventures and Mascherano believes the Reds can now push on. He added: "I try to watch all of Liverpool's games on TV. They have had a tough start but I'm sure they'll get much better. "There have been a lot of problems with the owners and this has affected things on the pitch. "Now this has been sorted out, I think things will get better for the team." Settling in As for his Barcelona career, Mascherano has made six appearances so far and believes he is settling in well. He said: "We are fighting for three titles this season and have started fairly well. "I feel I have settled in OK. After only two months here I already feel at home and the people are treating me very, very well. "I try to improve every day and adapt to the team - but La Liga is totally different to what I have been used to. "The Premier League is much more physical but, here, they prefer to play more tactically and technically. "Coming here is a step forward for me and I am trying to do better." Mascherano admits he would love to see Fernando Torres join him at Camp Nou but believes it will be hard for the Spanish ace to quit the Kop. He said: "Torres is so good, he could play for any club. I'd like to see him at Barca but don't know if that would be possible. "Liverpool's fans love him so much and he loves them so much too that I don't know if they would be able to part."

Spurs Reject Kranjcar Desperate For Liverpool Move

Niko Kranjcar could be given the chance to kick-start his career with a January transfer to Liverpool.
The Croatia midfielder has indicated he is keen to leave Spurs after falling out of favour at White Hart Lane because of the form of Gareth Bale and summer signing Rafael van der Vaart. According to the Times, he could get his wish to move on after Liverpool asked about his availability. Reds boss Roy Hodgson has made it clear he intends to add to his squad in January and is looking for players capable of slotting into a Premier League side straight away. Kranjcar, 26, fits that profile having played in England since 2006, initially with Portsmouth before making a £2 million switch to Tottenham in 2009. However, a move for Kranjcar would test the commitment of Liverpool's new owners, as Spurs are believed to value him at around £7 million. Newcastle United and Everton are also interested, but Tottenham's asking price is likely to prove too expensive for both clubs.

Roy Desperate To Sign Striking Partner For Torres

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has spoken of the club's need for a striker ahead of talks with new owner John Henry next week. New England Sports Ventures' principal owner will fly to England in the coming days and remain in the country to attend Liverpool's clash with Chelsea at Anfield next Sunday. But the primary purpose his visit is to hold talks with the Kop boss over potential targets for the January transfer window and top of Hodgson's agenda is providing support for Fernando Torres in the Reds' front line. Despite claiming in September that his squad was currently overstaffed, Hodgson claims that Liverpool are still lacking firepower and claimed that Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt were 'non-specialists', despite the Dutch duo arriving at the club as natural strikers. He said: "That's clearly not enough. A club like Liverpool shouldn't have to rely on non- specialists like Dirk Kuyt or Ryan Babel ;doing a job; up front when they are primarily wide players. "We have the same problem with the reserves. We don't have any strikers and a winger called Nathan Eccleston has to play up front. "'In training, I can't have practice games where each team plays a 4-4-2 because I don't have the front players to do that. Liverpool have been linked with various goal poachers in recent weeks, including Roma's Mirko Vucinic and Athletic Bilbao hit man Fernando Llorente, and Hodgson is hopeful that he can capture three players who will bolster his ranks when the market reopens. He added: "There is more chance of a striker coming in this window because we had no money last time. Everything was so convoluted with the ownership issue. "The first thing people say when I walk down the street is 'We need a front player'. They can't all be wrong and we aren't that stupid either."

Hodgson: Dalglish Is In The Right Place

So far it has been a story that might even test the brain of Milan Kundera, the Czech writer who Roy Hodgson espouses, but the Liverpool manager maintains that the club's fortunes are about to turn and the days of political struggling at Anfield are over. They may have new owners but Liverpool remain in the relegation zone going in to today's game at Bolton and there is still much to be done for Hodgson, who has guided his team to only two wins in nine Premier League games so far. Few managers in Hodgson's position would feel comfortable with Kenny Dalglish at the club (think Alan Shearer multiplied by Kevin Keegan in Newcastle terms), particularly as the Scot made it clear he was interested in the manager's job in the summer. But far from being threatened by Dalglish's presence, Hodgson even went to Wigan's 1-1 draw against Bolton with the Scot last week – Dalglish drove – and thinks the former player-manager is vital to taking the club forward. Hodgson feels Dalglish, whose current role involves working with the academy and some scouting after returning to the club as an ambassador under Rafael Benitez last year, should be working at a level that is unaffected by the identity of the manager for as long as he wants. "I'm not prepared to pass up on quality people who can help because of a fear the day may come when the club decides they want Kenny as manager," said Hodgson. "That wasn't the case in the summer, but that's not to say it won't be the case forever. I don't know. I have no fears in that respect because I know my qualities and I'm not a political person. He is doing a great job alongside us and we involve him in our scouting while he still works at the academy and plays an ambassadorial role. That's what he's good at. "You cannot find a better person for that than Kenny. I told him I was disappointed he went for the manager's job because for me he should be working for Liverpool on a permanent basis, long after I leave for years to come assisting all future Liverpool managers. When it was mooted the club wanted me for the job I made it clear to Kenny I wantedhim on board and it wouldn't be like it was with Benitez where you are here in name but never allowed to set foot into Melwood and we don't want anything to do with you."

Miereles: Players Finally Understanding Hodgson

Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles says the players are fully behind manager Roy Hodgson. The Portugal international revealed he is enjoying working for Hodgson and said the squad have a great respect for the manager. Meireles told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I am enjoying playing for the manager a lot. He has everything to succeed at Liverpool. "He is also a nice man because he always talks to us, he likes to know about our wellbeing and asks us about our family. "Every day we are working hard in training and we all want to do well for the manager and get Liverpool back to the top as quickly as possible. "He has some good ideas about how he wants us to play and I am confident things will turn around for the better. "We have a good team. Sometimes in football things don't go the way you want, but we are working hard to put things right. "It's a new team with a new coach and it sometimes takes time to get everything right. "We have a lot of quality in this squad and some world-class players, so we have everything to get back to the top."

Miereles: We All Support Torres

Raul Meireles says Liverpool's players are fully behind teammate Fernando Torres. Torres got back on the scoresheet with the winner against Blackburn last weekend and Liverpool's No.4 believes the Spanish hitman is now ready to strike fear into Barclays Premier League defences all over the country again. "The whole team is happy because Fernando is a fantastic striker and he lives off goals," he told liverpoolfc.tv. "He has been injured and it has taken some time to get back to his level, but I see Fernando working hard every day in training and he wants to help the team and score goals. "Every day in training he scores a lot of goals and I am confident he will score a lot more for us this season."

Hodgson Hoping This Is The New Dawn

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson hopes they're over the worst. Some of the tension was eased with victory over Blackburn last weekend but Hodgson is not getting carried away with one performance. The former Fulham manager said: "It is quite easy to kick people when they are down. "We are down at the moment so the kicks are going to rain down on us. We just have to deal with it. "The first quarter of the season has not been a good one for us in terms of league form. "The next three quarters is going to be very important. "At the moment we are still in a poor position as far as our league position is concerned. We need to get a result in every game to get out of it. "I am a bit wary of saying the problems are over, we have turned the corner, but I believe in the team and I believe we are capable of doing a lot better in the next quarter of the season than we have in the first quarter."

Hodgson: Bolton Pose Stern Challenge

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson knows they face a tough test against Bolton Wanderers. Under Owen Coyle, Bolton are enjoying their best start to a season for four years - but victory for the Reds at the Reebok Stadium would put them level on points with the Trotters. "I have a lot of respect for Bolton, I think they are a very good club and a good team," said Hodgson. "They have been very successful for a number of years now and we know they are a hard team to beat. "They are a very stable Barclays Premier League team today and we are going to have to play at our best to get a result there."

Bolton Boss Afraid Of Dangerous Liverpool

Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle feels Liverpool are a dangerous proposition this season. Liverpool and under-pressure manager Roy Hodgson at least head into the game on the back of a win at home to Blackburn last Sunday that ended a wretched run of five matches without a victory. For Coyle, that potentially makes them a far more dangerous side as he said: "Their tails will be up. "They will certainly be boosted by last week's result, so I'm sure they will be positive, trying to win the game. "We know how hard it will be because of the quality we face, but we will also be on the front foot. "My boys are in terrific form, they're playing well, so I'll ask the same of my group, that we give our maximum. "If we do that then I'm sure we can go and earn points from this game."

Henry: Stars Are Staying Here

Liverpool co-owner John W. Henry insists that none of the club 's stellar names will be allowed to leave in January. As the Reds struggle for form towards the foot of the Premier League, reports have suggested that the likes of Fernando Torres and Jose Reina have clauses in their contracts that might allow them to leave in the next transfer window, with Manchester City continually monitoring Spain striker Torres and the Reds ' arch rivals Manchester United linked with goalkeeper Reina this week. However, Reds manager Roy Hodgson has already warned any suitors off of Reina, and NESV principal owner Henry has since insisted that the club's main men will be staying put, reiterating that the playing squad would not be weakened. He said on the club 's website: "We have recently read stories about our intentions for the forthcoming January transfer window and have a sense of humour about this type of inevitable speculation. "As everyone knows we are new to English football, but not to sport, and we are studying all options. Opportunities and value will drive spending in January and in the future. "Our clear focus from day one of our ownership has been - and will be - to improve the club and focus on what it will take to put Liverpool FC consistently in a position to challenge for trophies. "We intend to build this club the right way. "Stories about our top players leaving are destructive and unwarranted but we realise that this kind of speculation is also common. "We intend to build on the strength of the current squad, not undermine it. And I can reassure our supporters that we have no intention of allowing the team to be weakened going forward." On Friday, Hodgson declared his intent to strengthen his playing staff in Janaury. The Reds face Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday, keen to relieve themselves of their position within the Premier League 's bottom three.

Hodgson Dismisses Torres-Reina Rumours

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has branded yesterday's transfer exit rumours as "sad". Goalkeeper Jose Reina is the latest to be linked with a move away while star striker Fernando Torres' future is a regular subject of conjecture. "It is sad these stories surface," said Hodgson. "There is no truth in them, they have no meaning. "Reina and Torres are excellent trainers and their commitment to the club is as good as ever. There is no question they are anything other than committed. "It is destructive but it depends on how you deal with it. "It is fantastic so many people want to write nonsense about us because it must mean we are still a big club. "The trick is to get on with the job, be happy and let the birds sing."

Liverpool Offered Lisandro Lopez By Lyon

Liverpool have reportedly been offered Lyon striker Lisandro Lopez. The Daily Mirror suggests that the French club are prepared to let their Argentine forward leave for the right price, and have sounded out Liverpool over a potential deal. Lopez, 27, is the latest in a long line of hitmen to be linked with Liverpool as Roy Hodgson searches for a new partner for Anfield hero Fernando Torres. Oscar Cardozo, Mario Gomez and Adam Szalai have also been mentioned as new Liverpool recruits as Hodgson prepares to add to his squad in January. The Reds boss explained today that new Liverpool owners NESV are prepared to back him in the transfer market as they look to turn the Merseysiders into a potent European force once again. "If we want the right quality, we have got to be prepared to pay the right price," Hodgson told the official Liverpool website. "The owners know that perfectly well. We have got to make certain that if we go out and spend £20m, we are getting a £20m player. "We want to be attracting the players that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter are chasing. It would be nice to think that we can shop at a high level."

Hodgson Delighted With Henry Statement

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has welcomed new owner John Henry's statement that he will not be selling any players in the January transfer window and will instead attempt to strengthen. Key men Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina have both been linked with moves away from Anfield in the New Year, with Manchester United linked with the latter as the replacement for Edwin van der Sar. But Hodgson, who has been in regular contact with the New England Sports Ventures group, led by Henry and co-owner Tom Werner, is not under pressure to sell players, although he admits things could have been different had controversial former co- owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett been in charge. "The statements were totally self-explanatory and in line with everything John and Tom have told me all along," Hodgson said. "It is very much in line with our aims for the club. Rebuild "One of our aims for the club is to rebuild and restructure and get much stronger. The way we hope to do that is keeping our strong base of top players and adding more players to it. "There have never been any discussions of the need to sell or get rid of players. All the talk has been of how we are going to make the team stronger. "It is a very different situation to the one I found myself in at the beginning. There was talk then of staving off administration and having to let players go. "But the new owners coming in has completely changed the face of things and, as far as we are concerned, their statement is perfect. It is just what everyone wants to hear."

Henry Pledges Decent January Transfer Funds

John W Henry, principal owner of New England Sports Ventures, has joined Roy Hodgson in promising that Liverpool's star players will not be leaving. The Boston based tycoon maintained his intent was to strengthen not weaken the squad. Using the club's official website he labelled recent talk of Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina being lured from Anfield as "destructive and unwarranted". "We have recently read stories about our intentions for the forthcoming January transfer window and have a sense of humour about this type of inevitable speculation," Henry said. "As everyone knows we are new to English football, but not to sport, and we are studying all options. Opportunities and value will drive spending in January and in the future. "Our clear focus from day one of our ownership has been - and will be - to improve the club and focus on what it will take to put Liverpool FC consistently in a position to challenge for trophies. "We intend to build this club the right way. He added: "Stories about our top players leaving are destructive and unwarranted but we realise that this kind of speculation is also common. "We intend to build on the strength of the current squad, not undermine it. And I can reassure our supporters that we have no intention of allowing the team to be weakened going forward." Meanwhile Hodgson has stated that the Reds will only be looking to recruit top class players from now on in. However, despite the club being free of the debt George Gillett and Tom Hicks saddled Liverpool with they would only pay market value for players during the upcoming and any subsequent transfer windows. "We should not be shopping in the bargain basement and quality costs," the 63-year old said. "If we want the right quality, we have got to be prepared to pay the right price. The owners know that perfectly well. We have got to make certain that if we go out and spend £20m, we are getting a £20m player. "We want to be attracting the players that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter are chasing. It would be nice to think that we can shop at a high level. "I'm like all managers in that I'm wary of the January transfer window. I think it can be dangerous as clubs try to correct mistakes. "But, having said that, we are going to very interested about trying to improve our squad in January. "There is no question about that. I am sure we will sign players. What I would hope to do is get this group of players playing well enough so we don't need to panic. "Then I can say to the owners, if we are going to spend a lot of money let's get the right man. "I don't want to spend half the money that might be available on someone for the sake of buying when the player we actually want might not be available until the summer."

Hodgson Likens Kyrgiakos To Terry, Charlton And Adams

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has hailed the impact of defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos in both penalty areas. Kyrgiakos has established himself as a regular in the starting XI in the last few weeks and has chipped in with a couple of goals. Hodgson is happy with the Greek's form and feels his aerial prowess offers them a real attacking threat from set-pieces. "He's very dangerous in the opposing team's penalty area, there's no doubt about it. And he defends well in ours," Hodgson told the club's official website. "Against teams who play long balls and try to get you to submit to their aerial bombardment, with goalkeepers who come towards the halfway line to kick the ball into your penalty area, you do need players who are good in the air. "You need players who are brave and strong and prepared to put their head on the ball. We knew he was good at doing that in our area - but this season he's been doing it in the opposing area too. "Every time we get a corner he's dangerous." Score Meanwhile, Hodgson has backed Raul Meireles to soon open his goalscoring account for the side. The Portuguese midfielder has yet to score since arriving from Porto in August, but Hodgson feels Meireles will find the net in the near future. "Meireles is a very good player and is a good striker of the ball," added Hodgson. "I'm sure his first goal for the club won't be too far away. "He will get goals for us and he is a class act that gives this team something different. "Meireles is the type of player we need to bring more of to this club in the future."

Liverpool To Wear Special Kit For Remembrance Day

Liverpool's players will wear poppies on their shirts next month after pledging to join the Premier League's commemorations for Remembrance Day. The Reds will don the emblem on kits for the first time in their history in the games leading up to November 11 when the nation falls silent to remember the sacrifices made by the armed forces during conflict, particularly the First and Second World Wars. Last year the Reds were accused in some quarters of lacking sensitivity to the occasion after not to sporting a poppy on their kits despite a ceremonial poppy being placed in the centre circle at Anfield before the game with Birmingham City on November 9. A minute's silence was impeccably observed whilst Liverpool also donated their players' shirts to the Royal British Legion to auction for the Poppy Appeal but their refusal to wear the symbol on kits prompted debate over the level of respect being shown by the club to fallen troops. However this year the club has joined 16 other current members of the Premier League in agreeing to display poppies on their kits but Manchester United, the other club to not wear one last season, have yet to decide whether they will follow suit. Newly-promoted Blackpool and United's local rivals Manchester City both wore the poppy last season but have been unable to confirm whether they will repeat their gesture this year.

Hodgson Wants Better Scouting Facilities

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is keen to improve their scouting. Hodgson, who brought the likes of Chris Smalling, Bobby Zamora and Brede Hangeland to Fulham, believes it is one area the Reds can improve. "I think you can pay an awful lot of money for poor players and you can pay not very much money for very good ones - it is all to do with how good your scouting and your eye is," he told liverpoolfc.tv. "There are a lot of things here that the club has got to get right. We have got a lot more expensive failures on our list than good players that we have brought in for next to nothing. "Free transfers don't necessarily mean that you have got a bargain. My experience of them has been very mixed. You need to be sure that the player you get can do the job you want from him."

Academy Chief Borrell Yet To Scout New Messi

Liverpool academy chief Rodolfo Borrell admits he's yet to uncover a Scouse Lionel Messi. Borrell moved to Liverpool last year after several years with Barcelona's junior setup. "I don't know all of the players across the country, but I admire the characteristics of a Scouse player, he has something special," he told liverpoolfc.tv. "He is a player that learns quickly, is very competitive, aggressive and disciplined. He is always ready to fight for his team. I don't think that is the case for every player in England, I think there is something different about Scouse players. "We are investing a lot more in players from around Liverpool. "I am happy with all of our Scousers - but if you ask me if I see players with that extra special talent, like Lionel Messi, then I have to be honest. I do not see anyone of that calibre. "But we have players with some good ingredients that with the right focus and hard work, will go through and be competitive for the first-team of Liverpool."

Konchesky Expecting Roy To Solve All Problems

Paul Konchesky today backed Roy Hodgson to get Liverpool clicking into gear and ascending the Barclays Premier League table over the coming months. The defender acknowledges the Reds have endured a mixed start to the 2010-11 season, but following the morale-boosting victory over Blackburn Rovers last time out, he's optimistic the side will soon begin to display their true potential. And Konchesky is in no doubt Hodgson is the right man to lead Liverpool forward. He said: "He wanted to come to Liverpool and do really well. It has been tough for him, just as it has been tough for us, but he is the one who gets the brunt of it. "But I think he is the man who can take Liverpool forward. He works hard on the training ground, he wants to help you improve from day-to-day. "He is not ashamed to tell you things that he thinks should be happening but if the players think something can be done another way, he will listen and take it on board. He is now starting to get his points of view across and I'm sure he can take us a long way. "We have had a bad time and we have had to stick together. The manager has taken the brunt of the criticism but he has stayed in good spirits to try and lift the players. Hopefully we can now go from strength to strength." Konchesky has experienced a whirlwind couple of months since following Hodgson from Fulham to Anfield on transfer deadline day in August. Injuries have restricted the full- back to just seven appearances so far, while off the field, New England Sports Ventures tied up their purchase of the club. "When you are on the outside, you read about the things that are going on but you don't really appreciate them," admitted Konchesky. "It's completely different when you come in and see it for yourself. It was hard at first to try and settle in. "But I've got my head down and the lads have made me feel really welcome. In general, I've had a great two months here and I'm looking forward to the future. Touch wood, I feel fit now and hopefully I've had my share of injuries. I just want to have a good season now." Confidence around Melwood has been buoyed by two highly encouraging displays against Napoli and Blackburn. After grinding out a hard-fought goalless draw in Naples, Liverpool recorded a 2-1 victory over Sam Allardyce's side on Sunday to end a sequence of seven matches without a win. The tempo and intensity of the Reds' triumph against Rovers was particularly eye-catching - and Konchesky is hoping they can maintain that momentum at Bolton Wanderers on Sunday. "It wasn't just the result, it was the performance," he said. "From Napoli going into Bolton, you can see we've picked up a bit and there is a lot of fight. I think it is a sign that we are getting back on the road. "There's a chance to get some momentum going now. It would have been tough if we had not got a result last weekend but things feel much better and the only way everyone is looking now is up. The aim now is to get back-to-back wins and push forward. "We have had chances in the games we have lost and drawn but when the luck isn't going for you, there is not a lot you can do. But we set a tone last Sunday and kept going. It was one-way traffic and we just had to be patient." Konchesky has already lined-up at the Reebok Stadium this season when he helped Fulham to a goalless opening-day draw in Lancashire. He is, therefore, well aware of the threat Owen Coyle's outfit will pose. "They have changed the way they play," said the Reds' No.3. "I was there when Fulham played them earlier in the season and they do try and play football but they can still go long if need be. It will be tough but if we can start as we did against Blackburn, there's no reason why we can't win again."

Hodgson: Torres Is At His Best In Training

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has seen signs that Fernando Torres is getting back to his best. The star striker has endured a difficult start to the season but hit the winner in last Sunday's crucial Barclays Premier League win over Blackburn. That was only the second goal of the campaign for the Spanish World Cup winner, who has struggled for form since undergoing a knee operation in April. Hodgson told LFC TV: "I think his desire and his wanting to do a good job have been there from the very first day. It is just a combination of things - maybe the team is playing a bit better and their extra confidence is giving him extra confidence. "Football is always a big amalgam of a lot of factors. You do need, if you are going to have a good team, your good players in good form producing what they are capable of producing. "With Fernando on Sunday we definitely saw that. I see it in training every day and I just hope he keeps going and we have a good few months of it."

Jovanovic Thanks Fans For Being Supportive

Milan Jovanovic today praised the role played by the supporters in our upturn in form over the last two games.
The Serbian is hopeful Liverpool have now turned a corner following a start where European success was not matched in the league. And he thinks the fans can take a lot of credit from their performances over recent months. "The fans here have been very understanding and I have been encouraged by their support," said the 29-year-old. "At other clubs, when the form is bad, they can start to criticise, but here they seem to try and help you even more. That's the great thing about Liverpool." Jovanovic added: "I am sure all the players can get better and we can play as a team. Everybody is trying really hard in the training sessions to get it right. "I don't think people can say we haven't worked hard in the games, but a lack of confidence and lack of luck can have a big impact."

Liverpool Lead Race To Sign Gillingham Starlet Miller

Skysports.com understands Liverpool are poised to sign Gillingham starlet Ashley Miller. Miller has been playing in Gillingham's junior ranks since 2003 and he is regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in England. The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton have all been linked with the 16-year-old, but it appears Liverpool are set to win the race for his signature. Liverpool's scouting team have moved quickly to arrange a deal to take the striker to Anfield with the club keen to tie up the move to ward off other suitors. Miller is highly rated at Priestfield and the schoolboy has been called up to the first-team squad for Saturday's game at Northampton. Miller is the latest young talent to come through the ranks at Gillingham with the club having sold 15-year-old Luke Freeman to Arsenal for a six-figure fee in 2008.

Hodgson Planning January Signings Worth £20m

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson plans to make new signings in the January transfer window. New Reds owners New England Sports Ventures are set to back Hodgson with funds in the new year to bolster the squad at Anfield following their takeover of the club earlier this month. Hodgson is confident the new owners will give him the green light to move for the best players, but insists he will not spend money for the sake of it. "If we want the right quality, we have got to be prepared to pay the right price," Hodgson told the club's official website. "The owners know that perfectly well. We have got to make certain that if we go out and spend £20m, we are getting a £20m player. "We want to be attracting the players that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter are chasing. It would be nice to think that we can shop at a high level. "I'm like all managers in that I'm wary of the January transfer window. I think it can be dangerous as clubs try to correct mistakes. "But, having said that, we are going to very interested in trying to improve our squad in January. There is no question about that. I am sure we will sign players." Hodgson added: "What I would hope to do is get this group of players playing well enough so we don't need to panic. "Then I can say to the owners, 'If we are going to spend a lot of money, let's get the right man.' "I don't want to spend half the money that might be available on someone for the sake of buying when the player we actually want might not be available until the summer. "The lucky thing is that we are rebuilding around several top- class players. We have got Reina, Carragher, Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt - it's not as if we are rebuilding from nothing." Hodgson also aimed a swipe at some of former boss Rafa Benitez's signings, claiming a number of players have not proved value for money. "I think you can pay an awful lot of money for poor players and you can pay not very much money for very good ones - it is all to do with how good your scouting and your eye is," he added. "There are a lot of things here that the club has got to get right. We have got a lot more expensive failures on our list than good players that we have brought in for next to nothing. "Free transfers don't necessarily mean that you have got a bargain. My experience of them has been very mixed. You need to be sure that the player you get can do the job you want from him."

Liverpool To Step Up Vucinic Chase

Liverpool are ready to offer Roma's wantaway striker Mirko Vucinic an escape route in January, according to reports in Italy. Montenegro international Vucinic, 27, has reportedly clashed with Roma manager Claudio Ranieri in recent weeks and reacted badly to being substituted after only 57 minutes of the goalless draw against Parma at the weekend. Vucinic, who recently hit the headlines with a bizarre goal celebration where he took his shorts off and put them on his head after scoring on international duty with Montenegro, is contracted to Roma until 2013. He is currently valued at around £16.5m but reports in Italy have suggested that Vucinic is available for a cut- price £13m because he is unhappy, with Liverpool interested in the striker. Reds boss Roy Hodgson has been short of options up front this season and is bidding to buy a forward in January to ease the burden on Fernando Torres.

Hodgson Warns Ferguson To Forget Reina

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has dismissed talk of losing goalkeeper Pepe Reina to bitter rivals Manchester United. The 28-year-old only signed a six-year contract in April and Hodgson has no intention of letting one of his most prized assets leave. Hodgson told the Liverpool Echo: "It was just one of those stories that seems to occur - it's just disappointing and annoying. "Pepe is fantastic here, he is a lifeblood of this team. "Everything he does around the club is excellent - he is always lively in the dressing room, he is always first class in training and he always wants to do more to improve. "He demands better from those around him, he is always pushing people on. He is a player who we hold in the highest esteem. "We have heard nothing from Manchester United and, more to the point, we don't want to hear anything from Manchester United. "If (Sir Alex) Ferguson is looking around at the end of the season and he has got lots of money to replace (Edwin) van der Sar, he might very well want Pepe Reina because he is the best around. "But we do not want to sell him. I would like to think that we are going to become a successful club once again and Pepe is crucial to that."

Thompson: Sweet Music To Be Back At Liverpool

LIVERPOOL are blessed to have the most emotional, inspiring anthem there is in modern football and we saw the powers of it again last weekend. Whether it was a plan to show our new American owners what Anfield can be like or whether it was to pull everyone together, we 'll never know but the idea to have Gerry Marsden singing before hand was absolutely inspired. Given the opposition we faced, I 've never heard 'You'll Never Walk Alone' sung with such gusto – if you excuse the pun, it hit the right notes. Happily, it proved inspirational because few would argue that Liverpool 's performance against Blackburn was the best of the season so far. It would be easy to say that Blackburn were poor but the intensity with which Liverpool started put them on the back foot; there was more urgency, better movement and we looked so much better from front to back. One slick passage of play summed that up – Fernando Torres played Maxi Rodriguez in, his cut back was met by Joe Cole and then Raul Meireles was on hand to try and turn in the follow up. During the opening weeks of the campaign, we haven 't had enough players getting into the box but maybe this is a sign of things to come as so many players looked like they are close to recapturing their form. Lucas, in particular, deserved a special mention; he hasn 't always been a crowd favourite but he was outstanding against Blackburn and dominated the game. Inevitably, Melwood will have had a much better feel to it in the last few days and I can remember a similar experience when I was at the club with Gerard Houllier and we found results desperately hard to come by. The vultures had been circling but we ended an 11-game sequence without a win by beating Southampton 1-0 in January 2003 and in the training sessions that followed, you could see the buzz around the place once again. I'm sure it is the same now – a weight had been lifted from everyone 's shoulders and all we can hope is that they can maintain the standards they set on Sunday.

Thompson: Purslow Deserves Credit For Liverpool Sale

THINGS are settling down now after New England Sports Ventures takeover but there has been one significant departure since they arrived in town. Christian Purslow has stepped down and I think it says a lot about the man that he is not interested in sticking around to share in the plaudits. He and Martin Broughton were the butt of a lot of cynicism and suspicion. Broughton, in particular, was viewed as an impostor due to of his affinity for Chelsea but, now and again, you need some who is not involved with the club emotionally to stand back, look at the wider picture and make the big decisions. Both Broughton and Purslow, along with Ian Ayre, deserve every Liverpool fan 's thanks for the role they played.

Thompson: Defense Must Be Tightened

AS encouraging as the victory over Blackburn was, Bolton are going to be a tough nut to crack at The Reebok Stadium on Sunday. Though we have had some good results there down the years, in the main you never get anything without a fight and they have a couple of dangerous options up front. Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander have struck up a good rapport and Davies is certainly a player who will let Liverpool 's defenders know that they have been in a battle. Davies has had his critics down the years but I bet if you ask Jamie Carragher, he 'd tell you that the new England international is one of the toughest players he has faced during his career as he is so strong. People say that Bolton have changed their style of play under Owen Coyle but that is not necessarily true because they still have the option of launching that 'out ball' to Davies, just as was the case when Sam Allardyce was there. They also have Gary Cahill and, in a couple of years, he and Everton 's Phil Jagielka might just be the men to succeed Rio Ferdinand and John Terry as England 's central defenders. Cahill is also an aerial threat so, with him and Davies prowling at every set play, Liverpool are going to have to be extra vigilant when defending corners and free-kicks. Fortunately, we have Sotirios Kyrgiakos right at the top of his form and in the past few weeks, he has become a rock in our side. Aside from Steven Gerrard, he was probably our best performer at Everton but surpassed that against Blackburn – he is making a difference at both ends of the pitch.

Mario Gomez Set For Liverpool

Bayern Munich have put Liverpool on red alert over the availability of Mario Gomez. The Daily Mail says Bayern intend to cash in on Gomez in January to fund a bid for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko. Gomez was all set to join Liverpool in August, only for Bayern to block the move on deadline day. Reds boss Roy Hodgson remains a big fan of the Germany international.

Roy Asks Shelvey To Emulate Gerrard

Roy Hodgson believes Jonjo Shelvey has the perfect role model at Melwood in his quest to become one of the country's top midfielders.
The 18-year-old was snapped up from Charlton this summer and has impressed fans with his dynamic style during appearances against Northampton and Napoli. His ability on the ball has seen Shelvey become England U19 captain - but Hodgson doesn't believe there is any danger of the youngster resting on his laurels. "He's very good. He's a player who's come here with the right attitude and humility," the manager told Liverpoolfc.tv. "He realises it's a massive step from getting in the Charlton first team early on and receiving a lot of plaudits. Those things earned him a move to Liverpool and he's come in and worked very hard. "He's got a lot of players around him who can help and be an inspiration to him. With the way he likes to play, the level of his passing and technical ability, I'm sure he's looking at Steven Gerrard and thinking, 'Could I become as good as that?' It's nice to have that kind of role model. "Jonjo is also a team player, as he has shown on several occasions by playing in different positions." Another hopeful to have caught Hodgson's eye is Nathan Eccleston, who has scored three goals in his last two reserve outings. "We're pleased with Nathan," said the boss. "He's done very well since I met him for the first time and worked with him in Switzerland. He made a good impression on me there and he's done well ever since. "It's not easy for him to break into the team but he'll continue to work at his game, and we think he's making good progress and becoming a better player by working with the first team every day." Liverpool have now adopted a policy of occasionally inviting Academy scholars to join in with first-team training. And Hodgson has a very clear message to those aspiring to become the next Gerrard or Torres. "What the young players have got to do is make sure they get into my eye line every time they train with us, or every time they play matches," he said. "Even when there is a match like Tuesday in Huddersfield when I couldn't be there, Sammy Lee was there watching them. "They've also got to be fairly patient, because if you're at a really top club with a lot of quality players, it's a lot harder to break in than it is at a club where the squad's a lot smaller and the players you're trying to replace aren't called Gerrard and Torres."

Broughton Reveals Supporting Cast Of Takeover Saga

Specialist sports business and media law firm Couchmans has been highlighted by Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton as having played a key supporting role in the successful sale of Liverpool Football Club to New England Sports Ventures (NESV) for US$475 million . The law firm, brought in by Broughton to act as his personal advisors following his appointment in April, initially worked on the corporate governance arrangements set up between Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. The Couchmans team, led by Satish Khandke, a partner at the firm and head of sports ventures, then fulfilled a vital central advisory role throughout the six-month period that Liverpool Football Club was up for sale and was again heavily relied upon during the week running up to the club's takeover by NESV, which culminated in Liverpool's legal battles with Hicks and Gillett in the High Court. Broughton was highly complimentary of the work Couchmans provided in assisting the sale of the club. "Satish and his team worked tirelessly throughout. Even at the most testing time I always had confidence in the advice I was being given. "As chairman, it was vital to me that I had trusted experts alongside me who not only had the technical legal know-how to handle the complex issues involved, but were also well- versed in the nuances and politics of football. I have been working with Couchmans for some time on different projects and I have found their particular mix of legal skills and strategic capability allied to in-depth knowledge of the sports industry not only of immense value to me but unique in the marketplace," Broughton added. Regarding his teams work, Satish Khandke said, "It was a privilege to work at close quarters with a businessman of Martin 's calibre. As the individual with ultimate responsibility for both finding the right buyer for the club and executing a sale to them. Martin had the key role in the entire process, and as his lawyers we were therefore advising on all of the key decisions and strategy throughout. Speaking for the firm, I was especially pleased with the way we were able to adapt and deal with the broad range of issues involved as the matter transformed quickly from corporate transaction into high profile and complex multi- jurisdictional litigation. "This project illustrates clearly an increasing trend - that there is a vital role to be played even in the biggest of corporate transactions, for specialist firms with genuine sector expertise. Martin has rightly emerged from this extraordinarily difficult process with enormous credit and we are delighted to have played our part in helping him to secure the future of Liverpool FC," Khandke added. Broughton is reportedly stepping down from his role as Liverpool chairman to front an investment vehicle, Sports Investment Partners (SIP), a new business that will be run by his son Michael and Couchmans founder, Nic Couchman.

Hodgson Desperate To Sign Defour

Liverpool intend to challenge Manchester United for Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour. The Telegraph says Defour has been a long-term target for the Liverpool manager, Roy Hodgson. At 22, and around £12 million, Defour represents minimum risk for maximum reward. The player fits the new model Liverpool owners NESV see as their blueprint for future transfers.

NESV Plan To Curb Excess Liverpool Spendings

NESV want to reign in mega transfer spending at Liverpool. The Telegraph says NESV is believed to have been concerned by the millions of pounds haemorrhaged on transfer fees and wages by the club in recent years as it examined Liverpool's finances as part of the due diligence process carried out before the £300 million purchase of the Anfield side was completed. Under Rafael Benítez, Liverpool spent more than £230 million in six years on fees alone – though much of that was recouped in sales – while the purchases of the likes of Raul Meireles, Christian Poulsen, Brad Jones and Paul Konchesky totalled £25 million in Hodgson's first summer at the club. "We have to be smart," John W Henry, NESV's principal backer, who will assume a place on Liverpool's board, said after the deal was completed. "We have to be more efficient. When we spend a dollar it has to be wisely. We cannot afford player contracts that do not make long-term sense. We have to be smart, bold, aggressive. It's a great challenge."

Reds Cut In To Sign Sessegnon

Liverpool have joined the race for PSG midfielder Stephane Sessegnon. Sessegnon's agents courted interest from Chelsea and Tottenham last January and are set to again entertain offers from England for the Benin international. Hodgson has been very active in the French transfer market this month and Paris sources say Sessegnon is the latest Ligue 1 star to attract a concrete enquiry. The midfielder has less than three years to run on his current deal and can leave PSG for the right price.

Reds Approach Real For Drenthe

Liverpool have made contact with Real Madrid for wing-back Royston Drenthe. The Dutchman is impressing on- loan at Hercules this season and Sport says Liverpool are ready to make an offer. Real will welcome a bid for Drenthe as he has no future in coach Jose Mourinho's plans.

Reds Desperate To Land Turkish StrikertSahin

Liverpool are chasing Borussia Dortmund attacker Nuri Sahin. The exciting Turkey international has been a long-term target for Europe's biggest clubs, including Bayern Munich and Barcelona. However, German sources say Reds boss Roy Hodgson, armed with the funds from new owners NESV, is ready to bring Sahin to Anfield as early as January.

Dalglish Checks Out Hazard For Liverpool

Liverpool are chasing Lille sensation Eden Hazard. The Telegraph says the 19 year- old has attracted interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, and could cost as much as £18 million. However, Liverpool believe they can tempt the player – who is likely to be advised by his agent to seek a move to a club where he will play regular first-team football – and Kenny Dalglish was watching when the French side played Levski Sofia in the Europa League last Thursday.

Kuyt Set For Return Against Chelsea

Liverpool have been given a boost by the news that Dirk Kuyt could return from injury sooner than expected, even in time to face Chelsea next Sunday. Kuyt is definitely ruled out of this Sunday's Premier League clash away to Bolton with an ankle injury picked up on international duty earlier this month, but he could make his comeback at Anfield on November 7th. Hodgson says, "Dirk Kuyt is making incredible progress. He shouldn't be as far advanced as he is with his ankle but he's looking good. I don't think he'll be fit for the weekend but maybe the weekend after." However, Hodgson also had an update on defender Glen Johnson's injury, which looks set to see him miss the trip to Bolton this weekend. Johnson has missed the last three Reds games. Hodgson addded, "With Glen Johnson it's one of those things that will be touch and go for the weekend. He's making strides but he's not 100 per cent." Hodgson also has Fabio Aurelio,Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel all sidelined with injuries at the moment.

Six Signings To Which NESV Would Have Said NO

Six deals that would not have happened under NESV regime Fernando Morientes
The Spanish international, signed for £6.3 million as a 28 year-old in January 2005, failed miserably at Anfield, scoring just 12 goals in 61 appearances. NESV 's belief in signing young players would have precluded the deal.
Robbie Keane Signed as a 28 year-old for £20.3  million in 2008, the Irish international would also have been judged by NESV to be too old to warrant such a premium fee.
Alberto Aquilani Though the Italian international's age (26) and pedigree would have still made him a legitimate target, concerns over his injury record would have ruled out a £17 million move for the Roma player, now on loan at Juventus.
Jamie Carragher
John W Henry may have been concerned by the sight of a 32 year-old being handed a lucrative two-year contract just before NESV completed its takeover.
Maxi Rodríguez The Argentine international, age 29, came on a free transfer from Atlético Madrid boasting a fine pedigree, but his wages, believed to be around £70,000 a week until June 2013, may have discouraged NESV from such a long contract.

Paul Konchesky A four-year contract for a 29 year-old – as well as a £5 million fee – does not match the profile of deal NESV believes can help Liverpool develop in the long- term.

Liverpool To Find Talent Rather Than Splashing Cash

Roy Hodgson will not target any trophy signings in the January transfer window as Liverpool's new owners, New England Sports Ventures (NESV), look to put a stop to the profligate spending which it believes has hampered the club's progress in recent years. NESV is believed to have been concerned by the millions of pounds haemorrhaged on transfer fees and wages by the club as it examined Liverpool's finances as part of the due diligence process carried out before the £300m purchase of the Anfield side was completed. Under former manager Rafael Benitez, Liverpool spent more than £230m in six years on fees alone -- though much of that was recouped in sales -- while the purchases of the likes of Raul Meireles, Christian Poulsen, Brad Jones and Paul Konchesky totalled £25m in Hodgson's first summer at the club. NESV's takeover freed up £36m a year of revenue -- money that had previously been used to service Liverpool's £282m debts -- to be reinvested in the club. Although its offer also made provisions for an immediate injection of funds into the playing staff, the American consortium has made it clear it expects value for money, both from fees and salaries. Efficient "We have to be smart," John W Henry, NESV's principal backer who will assume a place on Liverpool's board, said after the deal was completed. "We have to be more efficient. When we spend a dollar it has to be wisely. We cannot afford player contracts that do not make long- term sense. We have to be smart, bold, aggressive. It's a great challenge." Henry will take an active role in football matters at Anfield, assessing Hodgson's suggested transfer targets and setting budgets for contract renegotiations of players already at the club. The 61-year-old has already expressed his concern at the wages earned by older players on long-term, high-value contracts. NESV's approach -- applied with great success at the Boston Red Sox -- is likely to rule Liverpool out of the glamour signings which many fans hoped would follow the eviction of previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Instead, the club's recent scouting activity suggests they intend to follow the Arsenal model or, perhaps more pertinently, institute on an informal basis the transfer policy employed at Manchester United, where premium fees are only paid for younger players with resale potential. "At the Red Sox we invested a lot in management and the scouting system," said NESV chairman Tom Werner. "We believe the foundation of any good sports club has to be the experience, valuation and understanding of scouting." Those players assessed by Hodgson and his scouting team in recent weeks include Steven Defour, the Standard Liege captain and a long-term target for the Liverpool manager. At 22, and valued at around £12m, Defour represents minimum risk for maximum reward. Likewise Ibrahim Afellay, the PSV Eindhoven winger who Liverpool have assessed several times. Already a Dutch international at 24, Afellay would fall within Liverpool's budget. More expensive would be Eden Hazard, Defour's Belgian international team-mate, currently with Lille. The 19-year- old has attracted interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and United, and could cost £18m. However, Liverpool believe they can tempt the player with the incentive of regular first-team football. Hodgson will not be allowed to add any players, though, without first trimming the squad. Liverpool boast the fourth- highest wage bill in the Premier League -- standing at £107m in 2009, according to football finance analysts Deloitte -- but find themselves marooned in 18th place in the table. NESV does not blame Hodgson for that poor performance so far this season, but rather interprets it as evidence that many of the squad do not warrant their reputations or their earnings. Henry's experience as a futures trader, as well as his noted obsession with sporting and financial statistics, put him in a perfect position to analyse such information. He is acutely aware that figures suggest that, with almost unerring accuracy, a club's league position is defined by their wage bill. That Liverpool's key statistics are so discordant suggests the money is not being spent wisely. He is also a devotee of Sabermetrics -- the statistical analysis of the value of baseball players, pioneered by Bill James and which led Henry to appoint Theo Epstein as general manager of the Boston Red Sox in 2002 at the age of 28. Principles Epstein applied James' principles -- which are designed to help poorer teams identify value-for- money acquisitions -- to lead the franchise to two World Series championships with a squad largely composed of bargain purchases. Initial impressions of his time at Liverpool suggest Henry retains his faith in the method.

Ashley Young Strongly Linked With A January Move To Liverpool

Aston Villa winger Ashley Young is being heavily linked with a move to Liverpool. The People reports that Roy Hodgson will be handed a £30 million warchest by new Liverpool owners NESV in January as he looks to strengthen his faltering squad - with £14 millon-rated Young an alleged target. The 25-year-old has 18-months left to run on his current deal at Villa Park has fuelled speculation that he will soon be on his way out of Birmingham after stalling over a new contract. "I've told the people at Villa that I won't be signing a new contract at the moment," the England winger told the Sun. "I know they want to get it done now but my current deal still has a year to run after this season and I feel there is plenty of time to talk next summer." Tottenham have also been previously linked with the former Watford ace but, after Harry Redknapp yesterday ruled Spurs out of the race, Liverpool would appear to be frontrunners for Young's signature. Redknapp said: "We've got Gareth Bale - what would I do with him [Young]? "I can't get Niko Kranjcar on the pitch; he's a fantastic player. "What am I going to do with another left winger, give myself another headache?" Redknapp's comments will be a boost to Hodgson, who has endured a difficult start to his Liverpool tenure; crashing out of the Carling Cup to lowly Northampton Town and struggling to find form in the Premier League. However, the takeover by NESV appears to have breathed a renewed sense of optimism into some of the Anfield faithful and Hodgson will reportedly be given the chance to turn Liverpool into a force once again with a substantial transfer kitty when the transfer window reopens.

Hodgson: Reds At Their Strongest

Manager Roy Hodgson believes Liverpool will emerge stronger from the current adversity facing the club. The Reds remain entrenched in the relegation places despite edging out Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday. Hodgson has found himself under pressure in the opening months of his tenure due to a combination of dismal league form and a Carling Cup third- round exit at the hands of Northampton Town. However, despite on-pitch pressure and recent unrest at boardroom level, Hodgson believes the club will emerge at the other end a stronger force. "We're working in adversity but sometimes work done in adversity can be beneficial in the long-term because when you come out the other side you are a much stronger team and much stronger people," he told the club's official website. "Bolton away (on Sunday) won't be easy and then we've got Chelsea." Meanwhile, Hodgson is keen for his players to repeat the performance they put in against Blackburn. He added: "We were much more incisive, we got behind them more, we got behind them down the flanks and Jamie Carragher was bombing down there like Carlos Alberto of old. "We didn't concede too much space either and were winning the ball back quickly. It was the right sort of performance but we've got to give another 29 of those. "If we can do that, we won't go too far wrong but there's a lot of work to be done here - everyone knows it."

Hodgson: Miereles Close To Finding Goalscoring Form

Roy Hodgson is confident Raul Meireles will soon be rewarded for his hard work for the team by scoring his first goal in a red shirt sooner rather than later. The Liverpool manager believes the Portugal international has been a great addition to his team and claims he will get better. After getting closer and closer to finding the net in recent week's the boss insists Liverpool's No.4 get on the scoresheet soon. Hodgson told Liverpoolfc.tv. "Meireles is a very good player and is a good striker of the ball. "I'm sure his first goal for the club won't be too far away. "He will get goals for us and he is a class act that gives this team something different. "Meireles is the type of player we need to bring more of to this club in the future."

Lucas: Happy With My Form

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva was pleased with his performance in victory over Blackburn Rovers. Lucas has been happy with his own form for both club and country having made three successive starts for Brazil under new coach Mano Menezes, who knows the midfielder from their time together at Gremio. "I'm pleased with the way I played at the weekend and with how I'm playing since last season," said Lucas. "I think I'm improving all the time. I only have to do one thing: work and try to be better every single day."

Liverpool Linked With Albions Defender Chris Brunt

Liverpool are being linked with West Bromwich Albion midfielder Chris Brunt. The Northern Ireland international has been a revelation in the Baggies' return to the Premier League. The Express & Star says Albion will have their resolve to keep winger Brunt tested by a £9million bid from Premier League giants Liverpool.

Liverpool Begin Llorente Talks With Bilbao

Liverpool have reportedly approached Athletic Bilbao over Llorente move,TRL understands.
Now a january move seems highly favourable as Llorente admitted his desperation for anfield move.
Fernando Llorente admits that he is flattered at the interest from several of Europe's premier clubs, including Liverpool. The Athletic Bilbao striker has been linked with a January move to Merseyside as owners New England Sports Ventures (NESV) look to usher in a glorious new era at Anfield, whilst Barcelona and free- spending Manchester City have also targeted the Spain international. Llorente, 25, is currently contracted to Los Leones until summer 2013 but revealed that he was honoured that his performances were attracting glances from the continental elite. He said: " It's a compliment that they are interested in me, that means I'm doing things right.''

NESV Deny Need For Money Splashing

Roy Hodgson, the Liverpool manager, may have seen his side claim a much needed victory at the weekend but if he was hoping for further good news he would have been sorely disappointed yesterday. The Anfield club's new owners, New England Sports Ventures, revealed that they will not sanction any big-money signings in the January transfer window. The news will also dismay Liverpool's supporters, who would have hoped that after the end of Tom Hicks' and George Gillett's tenure, a big signing could mark the start of a new era. Having examined Liverpool's books, the American owners are believed to be concerned by what they regard as over- spending in recent seasons: Hodgson himself spent £25m in his first summer in charge. And although the purchase of the club has freed up funds for Hodgson to make signings, NESV have made clear that they expect value for money. "We have to be smart," said John W Henry, the group's principal backer, after the deal was completed. "We have to be more efficient. When we spend a dollar, it has to be wisely. We cannot afford player contracts that do not make long- term sense." The 61-year-old has made it clear already that he is not happy with the number of older players at the club who are earning big money on long contracts. Henry is expected to play a hands-on role at Anfield, assessing Hodgson's transfer targets and setting budgets for contract renegotiations. His organisation is not thought to blame the former Fulham man for Liverpool's travails this season, but they do see it as evidence that a closer eye is needed on the club's transfer business. Henry, a follower of Sabermetrics, the method of assessing players made famous by the book Moneyball, which explained how baseball's Oakland Athletics consistently overperformed in relation to their wage bill, is worried that Liverpool are failing to match where their spending suggests they should be in a league where wage bill generally mirrors league position. Liverpool have the fourth-highest wage bill in the league but are currently marooned in 18th. "At the Red Sox, we invested a lot in management and the scouting system," said NESV chairman Tom Werner. "We believe the foundation of any good sports club has to be the experience, valuation and understanding of scouting."

Babel Out For A Month As Reserves Lose

A Liverpool Reserves team was beaten 2-1 at the Galpharm Stadium this afternoon, with Dutch international Ryan Babel sustaining a bad ribs injury. With Liverpool having a week off football due to their Carling Cup exit to the hands of Northampton Town, this afternoon's friendly against Huddersfield Town gave opportunities to the likes of Babel, Dani Pacheco, Jay Spearing and, returning from injury, Fabio Aurelio. Second choice goalkeeper Brad Jones was given a rare outing too, as Huddersfield came from behind to win the game. Reds striker Nathan Eccleston, who spent part of last season on loan at the Galpharm, had given the visitors the lead before two goals from corners – Jamie McCombe and Nathan Clarke either side of half-time won it for the home side. Aurelio last 60 minutes, whilst Thomas Ince showed some good touches playing the first half before being replaced by 16- year-old Suso. Babel sustained his injury to his ribs with 15 minutes left to go, and was replaced by Jack Robinson. Babel was taken to hospital where he has undergone X-rays and is waiting for news on the extent of the injury. Liverpool Reserves: Brad Jones, Steven Irwin, Fabio Aurelio (John Flanagan 60), Michael Roberts, Stephen Darby, Chris Mavinga, Daniel Pacheco, Jay Spearing (c), Nathan Eccleston, Ryan Babel (Jack Robinson 75), Thomas Ince (Suso 45). Sub not used: Dean Bouzanis.

Gerrard Tips Torres To Start Goalscoring Run

Steven Gerrard has backed Fernando Torres' confidence boost from his Blackburn Rovers strike to fire Liverpool up the Premier League table. Torres, 26, had gone nearly two months between finding the back of the net before he hit the winner on Sunday. This drought had coincided with a slide into the relegation zone after a disastrous start under new manager Roy Hodgson. Speaking to the club's official website, Gerrard was sure the World Cup 2010 winner could now fire his team up the standings. "It'll do wonders for Fernando's confidence," Gerrard said. "All week in training he looked dangerous and lively running in the channels, and against Blackburn he was exactly the same. "He had Blackburn tormented, he kept the ball really well, and this team is so different when Fernando is on form. "He's had a difficult summer with injuries and a difficult start to the season with a few niggles, but now he's starting to look fit and sharp and I'm sure the win and the goal will do him the world of good and hopefully he'll go from strength to strength. "If we keep him fit and he's on form, we'll move up this table really fast."

Reds Line Up Steven Pienaar

Liverpool are again being linked with a shock move for Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar. The Anfield club were first linked with the South African in April, with ESPN suggesting then Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was keen to raid the arch Merseyside rivals. Spurs have also been linked with the player in the past, but the Reds are thought to be preparing a discount bid for the player as contract talks continue to stall between the player and club at Goodison Park. 28-year-old Pienaar moved to Ajax as a teenager, making his debut in 2001 and spending five years with the Dutch giants. A move to Borussia Dortmund followed, and after two years with the Bundesliga club the player joined Everton on a permanent deal after an original loan spell with the Toffees. Pienaar has been unable to agree terms on a new deal with the club though, and the Metro reports that new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is keen to bring the player to Anfield. David Moyes could be forced to sell or risk losing the player on a free transfer in the summer, although the former Preston boss has said he'd rather have the player for six more months than sell on the cheap. Serie 'A' side Juventus are also thought to be keen on the player, but Pienaar is settled in England and the possibility of a move to Liverpool is very much a reality. Few players have successfully switched between the two clubs, and the South African would face a backlash if he were to join Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres at Liverpool.

NESV Given Six Months Stanley Park Ultimatum

Liverpool fans hoping for a shiny new stadium could get an answer soon - the club's new owners have been given six months to decide what they want to do. The council's given New England Sports Ventures (NESV) the deadline to try and speed up plans for a new ground. A new stadium in Anfield would help to improve the area for the people who live there. It's not yet known whether new owner John Henry plans to build a brand new stadium or renovate the old one.
The council and NESV met on Sunday to talk about stadium plans. They're due to meet again in November. American company NESV officially took over Liverpool FC from previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett earlier this month. Hicks and Gillett promised a new stadium when they bought the club in 2007 - but that never happened, to the disappointment of many fans.

Pellegrini: Would Love To Manage Liverpool

Manuel Pellegrini has claimed that Liverpool have made an approach to install him as Roy Hodgson 's successor at Anfield – and that he would welcome the chance. Hodgson has overseen Liverpool 's worst start to a season since 1953 and has been under mounting pressure to leave from sections of the Reds support – but he has stated his determination to remain in the job. He may not have much choice if this is true, as Pellegrini is hopeful of returning to management by the end of the year. Pellegrini was sacked by Real Madrid in May, despite collecting their biggest ever points tally in La Liga last season at an average of 2.53 per game – but crucially he failed to pip Barcelona to the title. He is said to favour a move to the Premiership and sees Liverpool as the ideal club for that given the managerial situation and Latin contingent. "Yes, Liverpool contacted me." he said. "It is a great club with many Spanish players who I already know, and it is my intention to work in the Premier League. " "I had lots of offers, some that I like. Ideally, I would like to find a club in December. "

Hodgson Wants Coentrao At Anfield

The Daily Star are reporting that Roy Hodgson is set to move for Portuguese defender Fábio Coentrão. The Portugal international currently plays for Benfica in the Portuguese Liga ZON Sagres and has previously been linked with moves to Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea. Were Hodgson to complete this signing, the news would come as a bitter blow to Paul Konchesky who followed him from Fulham to Anfield, as Coentrão is also a left-back.

Roy Set To Sign Hungarian Star Szalai

Liverpool are being linked with a possible move for Mainz striker Adam Szalai, according to the Hungarian press. The 22-year- old has been on fire for the Bundesliga club this season and scored a hat-trick for Hungary in their Euro qualifier against San Marino recently. "If there was an offer then it's likely that we would consider it," said his agent Oliver Fischer, "But at the moment the most important thing is that Szalai is happy to play at his present team."

Skrtel: Love Kyrgiakos Partnership

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has told BBC Radio Merseyside of his admiration for Reds Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Skrtel and Kyrgiakos have been Roy Hodgson's central defence partnership for three games running in the absence of Glen Johnson, which has seen Jamie Carragher switch to right back. Kyrgiakos was on the scoresheet in Sunday's 2-1 victory over Blackburn in the Premier League at Anfield and Skrtel says he has found a connection with the 31- year-old at the back. He told BBC Radio Merseyside, "It's going really well, he's a great player. "He's a good guy off the pitch and I like the person and player. I think he won all his headers against Blackburn and he's very good from set-pieces." The three points against Blackburn kept the Reds in the relegation zone, but Skrtel believes it will give the team the confidence to rise up the league table. "The league table isn't nice when you look at it," Skrtel added. "I think everything is close at the bottom and if we carry on winning I think we will go higher and higher. "We were under pressure before the Blackburn game and everyone was expecting the win. Now that we have the win, we are very happy."

Gerrard: 3 Points Wonderful For Spirit

Liverpool's 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on Sunday will do wonders for the morale of the club according to captain Steven Gerrard. The Reds fought hard for the win at Anfield, with Fernando Torres providing the winning goal, but it was the performance of new players like Joe Cole which had Gerrard in a positive frame of mind. "The three points will have done wonders for everyone. It was great to see Fernando get on the scoresheet and Joe Cole set him up," he said. "We have got to use the last two performances as a fresh start but the last thing the players have done is hide behind the fact we've had a bit off an issue of the field. "We find ourselves where we are in the league because we haven't been good enough. It is nice and refreshing to know things are sorted out off the pitch and the fans are happy. " Gerrard said it was now important to try and go on a strong run to resurrect the disastrous start to the season. "It is all about getting a sequence of results and now we will find out now whether we are capable of doing it. If you do that, you will find yourself climbing the table really fast, " he added. "Three or four wins on the bounce and you will find yourself in a very healthy position. It is early days and there are still plenty of games to play. Enough is enough - we want to put that sequence together. "

Ferguson Planning Shocking Reina Swoop

Manchester United are believed to be ready to pursue Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Reports suggest that Reina is keen to depart Anfield in January which has alerted a number of top flight clubs including United who are hoping to bring in a long-term replacement for the ageing Edwin van der Sar. It is believed that Sir Alex Ferguson may be prepared to part with £12million for Reina's services but it will be a bold move as no player has moved between the bitter rivals since Phil Chisnall left Old Trafford in 1964. It seems that Reina is not settled amidst some unrest at Liverpool and is set for discussions with the club 's new owners regarding his future.

Reina: El Nino Not To Be Blamed For Poor Liverpool Form

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina thinks that it is unfair for Fernando Torres to take all the blame for his misfiring season. Star striker Torres has suffered with injury and seemingly with a resulting lack of confidence amid his club's problems in the current campaign. The Spain international scored only his second club goal of 2010/11 in Sunday's much- needed 2-1 win over Blackburn and it is hoped he will now rediscover his best form. In the meantime, critics have been lamenting Torres for an apparent lack of effort and he has been linked with a January move to Manchester City or Chelsea. But Reina thinks that the Liverpool team as a whole should take responsibility for his compatriot's struggles, saying: "All strikers are about scoring goals, scoring winning goals, and I think he can build on that strike from now on. Great moment "It is more or less what is happening to David Villa (who has scored just twice in the Primera Division) at Barcelona now. "It is about time because they are great players but when strikers are not scoring fingers are pointed at them - it is not fair. "I think we were not assisting him rightly in the last few weeks and he could do nothing at all. "He can win you a game easily but we have to feed him in, that is the point." Reina is also hopeful that Liverpool will be able to make great strides following the £300million takeover by New England Sports Ventures (NESV). "It was an important step and it has been a great moment for the club," he said. "Let's see if we can build up from now and they (NESV) can help us a little bit in the winter transfer window."

Liverpool Lineup Coentrao To Replace Konchesky

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is ready to raid the Portuguese transfer market again to boost his midfield. After the relative success of former Porto star Raul Meireles, the Daily Star Sunday says Benfica wing-back Fabio Coentrao is in Hodgson's sights. A January move is under consideration, with Hodgson having £30 million to splash out with.

Hodgson: 'Sack Talks' A Thing Of Past Now

Roy Hodgson is confident Liverpool's new owners will not make any knee-jerk decisions regarding his future as manager. The former Fulham boss has experienced a difficult start to his Anfield tenure and has already been faced with rumours that his job is on the line. Sunday's 2-1 home success over Blackburn Rovers was Liverpool's first win in eight matches and just a second in the Premier League this season. The result was not enough to lift the Reds out of the bottom three, but Hodgson's side are only two points from a spot in the top half of the table. Prior to the victory against Blackburn, there had been speculation that Hodgson had just two games to save his job, but he does not believe New England Sports Ventures (NESV) will react to the rumours. Top sportspeople "Mass media talk these days says 'Lose two games and let's sack the coach and start all over again'," he said after the win. "I divorce myself from all of that, it is not something I feel among the players or the staff. "I'm not certain the people here (NESV) have that type of mindset, they are top sportspeople. "They took over the Boston Red Sox, who weren't doing very well, and turned them into a champion team." A number of NESV representatives were in the crowd to see the win, although principal owner John W Henry remained in the United States because of illness. He added: "There were a lot of people here from the organisation here so I'm pretty sure his (Henry's) phone was buzzing and he'll be pretty happy with the performance."

Cole: Glory My Reason To Be At Anfield

Joe Cole admitted the pre- match rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' from Gerry Marsden inspired the team to a much-needed three points as Liverpool overcame Blackburn Rovers 2-1 on Sunday.
With the team on the field preparing to start the game, Marsden led the Kop in singing the famous anthem and the England star claimed afterwards that it provided a huge lift. Cole told Liverpoolfc.tv: "That was brilliant because it lifted everyone and if we'd have scored in the first five minutes you would have had to give Gerry the assist! "The supporters are brilliant and I can't wait to experience the atmosphere on a big European night in the future. "The atmosphere was brilliant and that's why I signed for this club. "It feels like a weight off our shoulders and the whole place has been lifted by this victory. "I thought we played well. We should have won by more than the 2-1 margin. Paul Robinson pulled off some great saves but I'm sure someone is going to get a spanking soon when those chances start going in."
Cole provided the assist for Fernando Torres to net the winner and he has backed Liverpool's No.9 to push on and get back to his best. "It was great for Fernando to get back scoring again," he added. "We have been working on that all week, getting the ball into the box better from the wide areas and it was nice to give Fernando a chance. "He is the focal point of our team so if he's playing well we know we'll be winning games. "This was an important three points and it's a great confidence boost for us. We've got until next Sunday now to prepare for our next game against Bolton which will be similar to Blackburn. "It's time we turned this around and start picking up wins now and that's what we hope to do."

Hodgson: Spearing, Shelvey Stars Of Future

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson was delighted with Jay Spearing and Jonjo Shelvey in the Europa League last week. He feels they both have a bright future in the game. "They did the club proud on Thursday and I'm really pleased with them," Hodgson told Liverpoolfc.tv. "Jonjo made his first start and he showed everyone what a good signing from Charlton we have there. "I remember when I gave Jonjo a start in pre-season against Borussia Moenchengladbach and he did extremely well. "I think Jay has been very unlucky not to play more because every time he has played this season, in the Europa League, even the Carling Cup and he played in pre-season for me, he has never played a bad game for the club during my short time here so far. "I'm really pleased with Jay and I think it's very good for the club that we have local boys like him who show that we don't necessarily have to go out and recruit expensive players from other clubs. "I wouldn't have any hesitation in playing Jay and Jonjo in the Premier League."

Gerrard: Smiles Back In Dressing Room

Steven Gerrard believes victory over Blackburn will do wonders for everyone in the dressing room as they seek to haul the club back up the Barclays Premier League table. The Reds put in an excellent performance in front of NESV chairman Thomas Werner to dispatch Sam Allardyce's outfit 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday - though the result does not lift them out of the drop zone. However, with just two points separating Liverpool from a place in the top half of the division, Gerrard is targeting a run of wins over the coming weeks. "The three points will have done wonders for everyone," said the 30-year-old, after watching goals from Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Fernando Torres secure victory. "It was great to see Fernando get on the scoresheet and Joe Cole set him up. We have got to use the last two performances as a fresh start but the last thing the players have done is hide behind the fact we've had a bit of an issue off the field. "We find ourselves where we are in the league because we haven't been good enough. Of course it is nice and refreshing to know things are sorted out off the pitch and the fans are happy. "It is all about getting a sequence of results and we will find out now whether we are capable of doing it. That is the challenge for this team. "If you do that, you will find yourself climbing the table really fast. Three or four wins on the bounce and you will find yourself in a very healthy position. "It is early days and there are still plenty of games to play. If we play like we can at Bolton (next weekend) we can do really well. Enough is enough - we want to put that sequence together." Liverpool's display against Blackburn was arguably the best witnessed by Kopites this season, though afterwards manager Roy Hodgson admitted anxiety crept in during the closing minutes. And Gerrard added: "I think it's normal when you find yourself down in the bottom half of the table and it was just about the three points. "The performance wasn't important, it was just vital that we got a win. It was a big bonus that we were terrific for 70 minutes - more of that and I'm sure we'll climb the table really fast. "It was disappointing to concede the goal but we showed tremendous character to come back and get the second goal. A lot of individual players came away with their confidence boosted."

Kuyt Set To Return In A Month

Liverpool and Dirk Kuyt have both been handed a boost by the news that he could return within a month. It was feared that Dirk would require surgery on his ankle injury, that could've seen him miss a large amount of the season, however a second scan has revealed the damage isn't as extensive as first feared, as he explained: 'I had a second scan and the doctor has now told me that they do not need to operate on my ankle. That is such a relief. 'The doctor says I could be back in the Liverpool team within one month.' Initial thoughts to the injury, suffered on international duty with the Dutch, were that the 30 year old could be facing five months on the sidelines so this is a much better diagnosis. With the right level of rest and physiotherapy we could see the Dutch international back by December, which is something the forward can't wait to do so he can help out his teammates again.

Hodgson Dedicates Win To NESV

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson says a first victory in eight matches has lifted some of the pressure at Anfield and believes the 2-1 win over Blackburn will have pleased the club's new owners, New England Sports Ventures (NESV). Hodgson labelled the match against Rovers as a ''must-win'' game and speculation began to grow that the 63-year-old had two fixtures to save himself from the sack. Former Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard was linked with the position, but Hodgson refuses to accept his position may be in jeopardy after the £300 million takeover. "Mass media talk these days says, 'Lose two games and let's sack the coach and start all over again'," he said. "I divorce myself from all of that. It is not something I feel among the players or the staff. "I'm not certain the people here (NESV) have that type of mindset - they are top sportspeople. They took over the Boston Red Sox, who weren't doing very well, and turned them into a champion team." A number of NESV representatives were in the crowd to see the win, although principal owner John W Henry remained in the United States because of illness, and Hodgson thinks the result will have pleased the new boss. ''There were a lot of people here from the organisation here so I'm pretty sure his (Henry's) phone was buzzing and he'll be pretty happy with the performance," he added.

Scudamore: Liverpool Were Never At Risk

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore claims Liverpool were never on the brink of going out of business before their latest takeover. New England Sports Ventures, the owners of the Boston Red Sox, successfully purchased the Anfield club from former co- owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett earlier in the month. With major creditor the Royal Bank of Scotland setting a takeover deadline and the deal being contested in the courts on both sides of the Atlantic, there were genuine fears that the Reds could slide into administration. However, Scudamore claims the situation at Liverpool was never as dire as was being painted. "The club was never at risk," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme. "There were bidders for it and the outcome was always what was likely to happen." Meanwhile, Scudamore has admitted that leveraged buyouts - whereby potential new owners borrow money to complete the purchase - are still allowed. Liverpool owed RBS £237million following the 2007 acquisition of the club by Hicks and Gillett. "They are allowed," he continued. "But if we deem the level of leverage to be too high and the business to be unsustainable then we have much more power as a board to either prevent that from happening or to apply some pretty stringent controls on the club. "I am not sure that (the level of debt) was going to threaten the existence of Liverpool Football Club. "I would prefer everything to be done in cash. I would prefer everybody to pay their bills on time, but we have to live in the real world and football has always attracted investment. "Leveraged debt per se is not bad. It is the level of it, the terms of it, the short term nature of it. "Anybody who borrows that amount of money and has to repay or refinance in 12 months is certainly at the risky end of the business."

Hodgson: Torres Happy Now

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is delighted striker Fernando Torres has finally found his scoring boots. Torres grabbed the winner in Liverpool's 2-1 Premier League win against Blackburn to end a goal drought spanning six matches. And his manager hopes the strike will mark the start of a return to form for the Spain star. Lively Hodgson said: "The goal will do a lot for him - I thought he was good today. "His movement was good and I thought he was much more aggressive and lively up front. "He was much more like the player we know he is. "If we can keep him doing that for the next 29 games then we'll cause plenty of problems to opponents. "It was nice to see him get his reward." Hodgson saw his team play his former club, Blackburn, off the park in the first half without being able to find a way past inspired visiting keeper Paul Robinson. Strikes from Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Torres, which came either side of Jamie Carragher's own goal in a frantic six-minute period shortly after the restart, finally breached Robinson's goal. It was Liverpool's first win in eight games, although they still remain in the bottom three of the table. Fight But Hodgson said: "I thought the performance was good in particular the first 70 minutes where we really did dominate the game. "We should really have been leading by more goals and of course in the end you have to fight for it because you are playing against a very competitive team. "But I thought it was a deserved victory and certainly one which was needed." He added: "My message at half- time was 'keep playing like this is because it is the right thing to do and if we carry on we'll get our reward'. Luckily, we did."

El Nino Smiles As Liverpool Secure 3 Pts

Fernando Torres rediscovered his scoring touch to earn Liverpool a thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers on Sunday afternoon. The 26-year-old's winner was his first goal since the win over West Brom on August 29. It came at the end of a crazy five minutes in which Sotirios Kyrgiakos had given the Reds a lead only to see it cancelled out by a Jamie Carragher own goal. The result sees Liverpool leapfrog Sam Allardyce's men into 17th place in the Barclays Premier League. Hodgson made seven changes from the side that earned a creditable draw in Napoli on Thursday, with rested stars such as Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles and Torres back on the teamsheet. They helped Liverpool make a lively start, with the hosts almost earning a lead with eight minutes on the clock when Torres split open Blackburn's defence with an angled ball to Maxi Rodriguez. The Argentinean's cut-back was met by Joe Cole, whose effort was in turn saved by the legs of Paul Robinson. Meireles pounced on the rebound but fired into the hoardings on the stretch. Minutes later it took a crucial header from Phil Jones to deny Torres a free nod at goal six yards out. The home side were playing with a confidence often missing this season. Next, Lucas sprayed a delightful ball down the right to Carragher, whose cross was directed wide by Torres. At times it looked like Blackburn were playing into a head wind as Liverpool hemmed them in, with Gerrard, Maxi and Meireles all finding gaps in which to play their football. Kyrgiakos was next to force Robinson into a save with a bullet header from Gerrard's corner. When Blackburn did offer a rare threat on 25 minutes, Liverpool's break was almost devastating, Reina bowling out to Gerrard, who lent the ball to Lucas and Meireles before forcing a superb block from former England goalkeeper Robinson. The Reds were pressing high, winning everything in the air and creating chances. The only thing missing was a goal. That nearly came with Gerrard's delicious cross into the box on 29 minutes. Lucas and Meireles both attempted contact but the ball was eventually cleared by Martin Olsson. Blackburn's riposte was to obstruct Pepe Reina while launching high balls into the box, a tactic not aided by the enforced substitution of Steven Nzonzi on half-an-hour, the lanky midfielder being replaced by Vincenzo Grella. The visitors had Michel Salgado to thank for their half-time clean sheet, the ex-Real Madrid defender getting his head in the way of a Meireles whack that was rocketing towards the top corner. The final chances of the half fell to South American duo Lucas and Maxi: the Brazilian heading narrowly wide after Kyrgiakos helped on a Gerrard corner; the Argentinean failing to connect with the skipper's superb ball into the area. Liverpool started the second half as they finished the first, only this time they immediately made their pressure count. Blackburn had not looked convincing from corners all afternoon and were made to pay for their dithering when an unmarked Kyrgiakos powered a header into the Kop goal via an irrelevant touch from Olsson. The lead lasted less than three minutes, however, as substitute Benjani beat the otherwise excellent Martin Skrtel before crossing to Diouf. The objectionable winger's shot was blocked on the line by Meireles, only for the clearance to hit Carragher and ricochet into the net. Heads might have dropped, but a remarkable period of play was not over yet - and on 53 minutes the Reds were back in front when Torres volleyed home a wonderful centre from Cole. It was the Spaniard's fifth goal in four appearances against Allardyce's men. Kyrgiakos might have got a second with another header midway inside the second period, which transpired to be the last serious opportunity of the game.

Hodgson Taunts Riijkard Over Sacking

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has aimed a sarcastic barb at Frank Rijkaard, claiming the Dutchman "must be a great manager" to have been sacked from Galatasaray and the speculation linking Rijkaard to Hodgson's job is being manufactured by his agent. Hodgson's Liverpool sit in the Premier League relegation zone after a disastrous start to the new season and former Barcelona boss Rijkaard's dismissal from Turkish giants Galatasaray has seen him touted as a possible replacement for Hodgson, should Liverpool's new owners opt for a change in manager. But Hodgson insists he is taking the stories with a pinch of salt, claiming he withstood similar gossip about his position in his time at Italian giants Inter Milan. "I understand Rijkaard has just been sacked from Galatasaray - he must be a great manager to have been sacked by Galatasaray,'' Hodgson told The People. "What you are talking about is Frank Rijkaard's agent who is putting his name around. "It's all speculation. I had two and a half years of that kind of thing at Inter Milan when every day there would be stuff in the newspapers that someone was going to get my job. It ended up with my being offered a new contract when I left for Blackburn! If I took two and a half years of that in Milan then I can take two and a half years of it here at Liverpool - don't worry about that.''

Watford Starlet In Liverpool Sights

Watford starlet Marvin Sordell is being linked with Liverpool. The London Evening Standard says Liverpool sent a trusted scout to watch Ipswich's giant 17-year-old striker Conor Wickham at Watford on Tuesday night — but it was the performance of Hornets' striker Sordell that impressed. A rocket header for the second goal in a 2-1 win was Sordell's seventh strike of the season. The 19-year-old continues to go from strength to strength. And manager Malky Mackay is delighted with Sordell's progress. He said: "His movement was fantastic and he's learning every week. He's causing lots of problems to defences. " And there will be headaches for Mackay come January in trying to keep hold of the striker, especially if the Liverpool scout reports on what he saw.

Liverpool Scouting Ipswich Wonderboy

Liverpool are tracking Ipswich Town superkid Conor Wickham. The London Evening Standard says Liverpool sent a trusted scout to watch Ipswich's giant 17-year-old striker Wickham at Watford on Tuesday night. Wickham is also being linked with Arsenal after Ipswich refused to rule out selling the youngster for the right price earlier this month.

Llorente Desperate For Liverpool Move

Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente is delighted with interest from Manchester United and Liverpool. Llorente has scored four goals in the last three games for club and country, and he has an efficiency rating this season for Bilbao of a goal or assist every 151.5 minutes. Liverpool are keen, while Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid are three other clubs eying moves for the 25- year-old, who recently said he was flattered by the interest. "It's a compliment that they are interested in me, that means I'm doing things right," he said.